ASTOR Enters Service

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LE

One little snippet of news which barely warranted a mention on the MoD website was that the UKâs Airborne Stand Off Radar (ASTOR) system has formerly been accepted into service.

Having been involved in the Project, itâs been at times a troubled gestation. However, I think it deserves flagging up as one very good piece of news amongst the oft highlighted procurement gloom. Although the website inevitably focuses on the airborne âsegmentâ of ASTOR, 5(AC) Sqn is of course a Joint RAF and Army unit (with a smattering of RN types for good measure).

ASTOR has excellent potential and introduces an entirely new dimension to the UKâs Battlespace awareness. Feedback from the customer so far has been excellent so well done to all for their efforts.

LE

As far as AAR goes, unfortunately not. It was removed to reduce weight at a time when the Sentinel was struggling to stay under Max All Up Weight. Falure to achieve that would have had significant implications for certification (which was accomplished on the back of the civilian aircraft on which it is based, the Global Express) and therefore costs.

To be honest, I think that the lack of AAR is manageable (if not ideal) as the aircraft has fantastic engines and an exceptional performance due to its supercritical wing. It has a very creditable endurance at a pretty high level and its operating altitude improves the sensor grazing angle (and therefore line of sight range and Synthetic Aperture Radar image quality) in comparison to the 707 based E-8C JSTARS.

ADC

MIA

It's likely to be a success so the papers don't care and the RAF doesn't need to unleash its feeble publicity machine and the world's shortest 4* to tell everyone how great it is. Just like Nimrod R1 it will do its job well and it will do it quietly unless, heaven forbid, something goes wrong.

LE

It's likely to be a success so the papers don't care and the RAF doesn't need to unleash its feeble publicity machine and the world's shortest 4* to tell everyone how great it is. Just like Nimrod R1 it will do its job well and it will do it quietly unless, heaven forbid, something goes wrong.

LE

So when will the IAs necessary to analyse the take should it be used be trained ? It's not as if we have them standing around idle these days. Indeed, is the plan still to rely on reservists ? It might be an idea to train a few if it is, although probably best to start by letting them know it's on their To-Do list.

The cynic might define "into service" in this case as the provision of airframes and qualification for flying pay; not as the provision of a capability.

Arguably Sentinelâs SAR/GMTI already partially offsets the capability lost with the demise of the PR9. However, the pure EO capabilities offered by the Canberra are now primarily being offset by the Tornado GR4 RAPTOR pod (which the Spams are immensely impressed with). In the open press, there have also been some trials conducted with the very similar DB-110 sensor pod mounted on an MQ-9 Reaper by the UK Air Warfare Centre.

The RN are now showing more interest in ASTOR and the first dark blue personnel have recently joined 5 Sqn. Technically, there should be no significant technical reason why an ASTOR ground station could not be deployed onto a ship.

5(AC) Sqn consists of both the ground and airborne segments and all manning required to operate the entire ASTOR system independently. Both the Airborne IAs (a combination of RAF IAs, RAF SNCO aircrew who have completed IA training, and Int Corps IAs) for the Sentinel and Ground Station IAs (a combination of Int Corps and RAF IAs) are established, funded and operational right now.

LE

This is possibly not the best forum to talk about what I believe the exact numbers are or are not capable of white.

However, ASTOR undoubtedly provides the UK with an extremely capable and independant SAR/GMTI capability. As it matures, that capability will grow still further and it will complement coalition assets such as JSTARS very nicely.